Kenyatta University’s Confucius Institute has begun developing a master’s degree program in Chinese studies as it seeks to position Kenya as a regional hub for Chinese language education amid deepening ties between China and Kenya. The institute’s local director, Leonard Chacha Mwita, said the proposed program will build on the recently launched Bachelor of Arts in Chinese language, currently the only full major degree program of its kind in the East African nation. The move marks a major expansion for the institute, which since its establishment in December 2008 has mainly offered certificate and diploma training in Mandarin to hundreds…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
By Daniel Kamau Kenya’s public debt has crossed the Sh13 trillion mark for the first time, reaching Sh13.02 trillion by May 2026. Official data shows the debt rose from Sh12.29 trillion in December 2025, an increase of about Sh730 billion within five months. The rise has largely been driven by domestic borrowing. According to the Central Bank of Kenya, domestic debt stood at Sh7.24 trillion as at 15 May 2026, while external debt was Sh5.78 trillion as at February 2026, according to National Treasury figures. This brings total public debt to Sh13.02 trillion, with more than half a trillion shillings…
By Regan Oluoch Kenya lost 6,715 shares in the African Development Bank (AfDB) last year, valued at Sh11.9 billion, after failing to complete its annual subscription payments within the deadline. The country’s total share count fell to 180,161 as of the end of December 2025, from 186,876 a year earlier, reducing its stake from 1.16 per cent to 1.034 per cent. The lower percentage has reduced Kenya’s ownership stake and influence in the continental lender, potentially diminishing its role in the institution’s decision-making processes. The lost shares were acquired by financially liquid member states such as Egypt, Nigeria, and the…
By Otieno Bildad Every weekend, thousands of young Kenyan men gather in neighbourhood video dens and sports bars to follow the English Premier League, Serie A, and local football matches. For many, the experience goes beyond entertainment. It is closely tied to sports betting, which has become deeply embedded in everyday football culture. What is widely marketed as harmless entertainment or a potential path to quick earnings has, for some, become a source of financial strain, anxiety, and psychological distress. As global football events such as the World Cup approach, the visibility and intensity of sports betting advertising and participation…
You won’t believe what happened next. Mary Wambui was untouchable. Political connections, multi-million-dollar government contracts, and a gleaming 211-room luxury hotel worth Sh9.5 billion. She moved in corridors most Kenyans only read about. Then it all came crashing down. The May-June 2026 issue of Nairobi Business Monthly pulls back the curtain on one of Kenya’s most dramatic business meltdowns — and trust me, you need to see this to believe it. Inside this explosive 72-page digital edition, you’ll discover: 👉 How a little-known Kenyan marathoner wearing Adidas shattered the two-hour barrier — and triggered a multi-billion dollar war between the…
By Daniel Kamau The English Premier League season has concluded, with all 20 clubs set to receive their share of the competition’s substantial broadcast and commercial revenue distribution. The Premier League remains the richest football league in the world, generating billions of pounds annually through domestic and international television rights, as well as commercial agreements. Its financial model is designed to balance competitiveness with reward, ensuring that every club receives a significant share of central revenues, regardless of league position. Broadcast revenue in the Premier League is divided into three main components: equal share payments, merit payments based on final…
By Otieno Bildad Kenyan women continue to face persistent financial challenges despite playing a critical role in supporting families and communities. Old Mutual’s latest Financial Wellness Monitor reveals a widening gender gap in economic stress, largely driven by unequal distribution of caregiving responsibilities and greater reliance on single income streams. According to the study, 45 percent of women report significant financial stress, compared to 40 per cent of men. The difference arises from domestic duties, as eight out of ten working women support dependents under the age of 12 compared to six out of ten men. For a significant share…
Global blockchain ecosystem and digital asset infrastructure provider Binance is commemorating Africa Month by reinforcing its long-term commitment to supporting communities across the continent and expanding access to opportunity through digital innovation. As part of its Africa Month activities, which ran from April 25 to May 25, 2026, Binance engaged users and communities across the region through a pan-African trading campaign designed to drive participation in the digital economy while highlighting the broader role technology can play in supporting inclusive growth. This was shared during a stakeholder engagement event in Kenya, bringing together leaders from the policy, development, technology, and…
By Phyllis Wakiaga Africa does not need another conversation about its tourism potential. The case has already been made repeatedly and convincingly. What the continent needs is a far more serious conversation about why, despite the language of growth, connectivity and AfCFTA, tourism across Africa remains unnecessarily difficult to move, build and scale. For too long, the diagnosis has been that the central problem is visibility: better branding, stronger destination marketing, more persuasive storytelling. All of that matters. But the issue is not branding alone; it is whether the product, infrastructure and policy environment can consistently deliver on the promise.…
By Regan Oluoch The State will pay Sh390 million to a construction company after losing a case to Consulting Engineering Services (India) Private Limited, bringing to a close a 14-year contractual dispute over consultancy work on the Mwache Dam project in Kwale County. The ruling, delivered by the High Court’s Commercial and Tax Division in Nairobi, affirms the validity of a consultancy agreement awarded on May 31, 2010, when the Ministry responsible for water infrastructure contracted the Indian engineering firm at a value of $4.3 million to undertake detailed design work and prepare tender documents for the flagship dam project.…
